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THE TEACHER MATTERS TO GOD!
Reading 1 Corinthians Ch. 4v14-21.
Introduction:
The word layman has crept into our vocabulary to describe the laity, that is, the vast majority of Christians who do not belong to the "professional" ministry known as the clergy. The use of this distinction has crippled the impact of the church on the world. Thousands of Christians have shirked their God-given responsibilities because they expect their pastor, or minister, (or whatever designation their church adopts) to perform all spiritual functions. The minister is expected to execute his duties so well that the people need not have any meaningful involvement in the church of Jesus Christ. The more competent the minister, the better, so that fewer requirements fall on the shoulders of the congregation.
Erwin W. Lutzer. Pastor Of Moody Memorial Church Chicago.
The Minister, The Pastor, The Teacher, is important to God!
Whatever designation you use to describe the Minister, Pastor, or teacher, he matters to God. Why? Because God has given him as a gift to the Church of Jesus Christ. Follow as I read!
Eph 4:8.
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
Eph 4:11-16.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
God has given the gift of Pastor-Teacher in the Church for v 12 says,
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of their ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
Ministering in the church constitutes the highest privilege. Nothing could be more honourable or have greater eternal significance than serving our Christ in His church.
This privilege is also the most serious responsibility a person can undertake. Fulfilling this privilege and discharging this responsibility demands a comprehension of the church and its ministries that is correct according to God's Word.
So why is it that so many ministers are weary of the ministry? Why is it that so few are entering the ministry? Why do so many men who enter the ministry end up with a nervous breakdown, one or two or even more heart attacks? Why do so many ministers fall foul of one or more of the leaders of their church and have to leave in disgrace.
Will someone please answer me this question? How is it that we can bring a man to serve as the Pastor-Teacher of the church and hail him as the servant of God for whom we have long prayed and within a short space of time many within that same congregation are tearing him apart simply because he will not comply with their wishes?
It has been said, in the Pastor-Teacher's first year most of the congregation idolise him, in the second year they criticise him, in the third year they pulverise him, in the fourth year they demonise him. He can do no right, no matter what he does!
If the Pastor-Teacher is so important to God, should he not then be important to us?
In the passage before us today the Apostle Paul gives us an insight into the reason God gives Pastor-Teacher's as gifts to His Glorious Church.
"I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you"
He is talking here about the things he had already written to them in
1 Corinthians. To this point he has been very forthright in his ministry to them, he is determined to declare the passion of his heart. They may not appreciate what he is saying, but say it he must.
I am not out to bring you to shame, but as beloved sons I need to warn you. He's not out to harm them but to help them. They may not like it but it comes from a heart of love for those he calls his "beloved sons."
A heart in every thought renewed
And full of love divine,
Perfect and right and pure and good,
A copy, Lord, of thine. Charles Wesley.
He calls them his "beloved sons" and speaks of himself in v15 as a "father" to them.
"For though you may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."
These believers were his beloved sons in the faith, he was their spiritual father. He was the one who had introduced them to the gospel and led them to Christ, therefore he had a father heart toward them. He loved them like a father, and he is saying, you won't have many who think of you like that, you won't have many who care for you as I do.
The Apostle had a passion for his sons in the faith, I believe it was so that his mantle would fall on them and they would become leaders of Christ's church in their time.
In his sermon from the text 2 Kings 2v14.
"And he took the mantle of Elijah, that fell from him and smote the water, and said, where is the God of Elijah?"
Thomas Boston concluded with these words.
"The extraordinary efforts made this day for advancing the Kingdom of the Devil in the Christian part of the world, the universal decay of piety in the churches look like a critical juncture, when the honour of God is called upon to 'arise like a giant refreshed with wine' to purify a people to himself, and strike his enemies on the hinder parts! Whatever sad work may be made on the churches before that day come, O cry 'Awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord, Awake, as in the ancient days' Isa. 51v9." End Quote.
Paul knew in these early days of the church there was a great need for leadership. That's a cry that goes up in every age and the Apostle wanted his "beloved sons" to follow in his footsteps.
Even today, the church cries out for leaders, leaders with an effective ministry that will effect edification and expansion. The church of Jesus Christ cries out for leaders that will display all the marks of godliness, devout men who will, by God's wonderful grace and power, lead us to cry out of hungry hearts for a
closer walk with God. Yes, you have many "instructors" or tutors but you don’t have many fathers that will press you, persuade you, plead for you that you become men and women of God. He's saying that's one of my roles for you as a spiritual father or leader.
And brothers and sisters, that is one of my roles for you today, that I will press you, persuade you, and plead for you before the throne of heavenly grace that, having come to faith in Christ you will become men and women of God.
The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world's greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little beside ourselves. A. W. Tozer.
As stated earlier, the Apostle had been amazingly forthright with the Corinthians, not with the intent to shame them but to warn them! Why? Because he wanted to prove them worthy successors to him in the work of God. By the way, that word "warn" can be translated "admonition" as used in Eph. 6v4. The word "admonish" means "to put in mind", he wanted to plant certain truths in their minds that would bring about a change in their way of life.
And beloved, there are times that a pastor must confront his people, correct his people and challenge his people. But because they may now begin to see him in a new light, they don’t necessarily want to listen to what he has to say. Sure he may have been the servant of God a few years ago but because he will not comply with my way of thinking and doing we no longer accept and acknowledge him. We need to be careful about our reaction to the pastor!
Num 16:23-35."And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.So they got up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense."
Don’t mess with God or his servant is the message of this passage!
2.He describes The Practice of A Pastors Heart! v16.
"Wherefore I beseech you, be you followers of me."
Now, this is interesting. The word "follower" means mimic. And Paul is saying, mimic my life, be an imitator of me. But surely Paul is boasting, no, he is testifying. The life of the Apostle in the sight of a Holy God is one to be followed. And remember Paul is making this statement knowing how God has been dealing with his church in these early days. He was without doubt a man of tenacity, integrity, authority and accountability. He knows he must practice what he preaches to have power with people and with God.
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon the earth. John Wesley.
"Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
There were those within the church that resisted Paul's authority. They did so because Paul would not jump through their hoop. They had challenged him to return and because he would not follow their directives and was following the Lord's directives, they began to make accusation against him before the others. They became puffed up with their own importance, they thought they knew better than the servant of God in this particular area.
But Paul tells them in God's timing he will return. Ah, but when he does he will confront the desenters, the troublemakers, the dictators. I won't judge by your words, I will judge you only by your power, which of course is the evidence of pleasing God. Paul knew that they could talk the talk but could they walk the walk.
Paul is emphasising the fact that a life of true submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is not proven by words but by a lifestyle of power for God. He is saying, it is one thing to profess or pretend to live a Holy Life, but it’s quite another to actually live it in such a way that you have a wonderful impact on others. It greatly disturbed Paul that they were all words but little or no walk, in fact they were living lives that displeased the Lord. And Paul was not afraid to say. Why? Because, he believed without doubt, he was the servant of the living God and that at all times he was answerable and accountable first and foremost to God.
The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."
The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a seaman third class Jones."
Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am a battleship." Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse."
In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest--something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril. Paul Aiello, Jr.
Paul points to himself as a model Christian. It's interesting, one of the definitions of that word model in the dictionary is "A small plastic replica of the real thing" but that is not what Paul has in mind!
He is, would you believe setting himself apart as a model of true Christianity. The very power of his life displayed that he was a man of God and that demanded the respect and reverence of other true Christians who walked close with the Lord. He knew of course that those who walked in the flesh and not in the Spirit would have none of this. That in fact is the very reason he has had to write this letter to the Corinthian church. Those who were taking a prominent part in the church were showing signs of arrogance where Paul was concerned, so he is setting their attitude to rights as he has been given authority of God to do. You might say to me, well pastor that sounds to me like boasting, no, that's testifying. And folks when you can testify like that you have God on your side.
Robert Murray McCheyne wrote to Dan Edwards after his ordination into the ministry. "In great measure, according to the purity and perfection's of the instrument, will be success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." End Quote.
Paul is saying, listen! Listen! The Kingdom of God is not just words, do as I say, but in power, do as I do. Only holy leaders can produce a holy people as and if they respond. Only leaders that live a holy life, not simply in their own eyes, but in the eyes of God, can call on their members to mimic them, to follow them and develop the self-same lifestyle.
You see, Paul wants the whole church to live a life-style that will display unity. Why? Because its only in that environment that God can bless.
Psalm 133v1-3.
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
3. He Defends The Preaching Of A Pastors Heart! V17.
"For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church."
He sends Timothy to remind them of the fact that he always teaches the Word of God in every church. No, he is not simply singling out the Corinthian church for such powerful teaching and preaching, he says this how it’s to be carried out in every church.
A. What Gives The Pastor-Teacher His Authority For Preaching!
That’s why I am sending Timothy. He knows what my heart is like with respect to the teaching and preaching of God Holy Word. He will testify to my heart for the preaching of The Word.
He says this with deep conviction because he himself follows closely the teachings of God's Holy Word!
Paul was a man with confidence in God's power!
Paul was a man with commitment to God's truth!
Paul was a man commissioned by God's will!
Paul was a man compelled by God's knowledge!
His whole life was to preach the Word of God wherever and whenever he could and most certainly within the confines of the churches! Why? Simply because he has been commanded from the Scriptures.
Rom. 10:14-15.
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
2 Tim. 4:2-4.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
Whether preaching to the lost or to the saints, all you are called to do is preach the Word of God.
But he was facing some buffeting about his teaching and preaching as the first few verses of chapter four declares. 1 Cor. 4v1-5
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgement: yea, I judge not mine own self.
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
And that's something most preachers who endeavour to declare the whole council of God have to face.
A visitor entered a church during the sermon and seated himself on the back row. After a few minutes he nudged the person beside him and
asked, "How long has the pastor been preaching?" To which the reply came, " About twenty years." The stranger replied, "I'll stay a while then, he must be nearly done."
We'll get more from the sermon if we learn the knack of listening like a Christian instead of a critic.
A Pastor-Teacher has to take the knocks and criticism about their preaching and teaching, yet it is an important part of being a shepherd of the flock of God. Lead and feed is the command to the pastor-teacher!
B. What Gets The Pastor-Teacher Attentiveness Through His Preaching!
Paul says, its up to you the kind of sermon I will preach when I get to you! Are you going to live in such a way that makes me come to preach with a rod and admonish you all the while. Or rather, will you live in a manner of life that allows me to come to minister to you in love! It’s all down to you.
You might say to me, pastor, I don’t like that kind of preaching! Well it's all down to you. What the Lord sees you need he will lay upon my heart to preach to you, and I can do no other!
Friends, I believe it would be immensely helpful if you could understand my heart a little better. That you could understand my responsibilities a little better, then maybe you would pray for me a little more earnestly!
I have heard people say, "The pastor does not understand us." The question is dear folks; "Do you understand your pastor and why he does what he does?" The teacher matters to God! Does he matter to us?
He should, not because of who he is but because of whom he serves!
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